Kismet
UPH Guru
Gotta say I had my reservations about going from GWPs to a Springer Spaniel.
The GWPs were great dogs, with huge enthusiasm and wonderful natural ability. The female was the best dog I'll ever have, but goofy ole Young Bert, the not-right dog, was a character who hunted his heart out, and provided laughter and adventures far beyond what a person would (or should) expect.
So, bringing in Mick, a Springer, was a change. Frankly, from spaniels I've seen out at the public hunting grounds, I had lowered expectations. The dogs I'd seen over the years were casual hunters, or out of control, or robots...(there's a story there), but not anywhere on a par with the drive and passion for the hunt that my wirehairs had.
But Mick, now...turning out to be just fine. I'm a little casual with him, but he has drive, understand compliance, and has developed a prey drive that impresses me. (Although...well,nevermind).
More than that, he's gotta be the easiest keeper dog I've ever had. Life is just fine with him if it starts with him going out in the yard on the yard leash, coming in for a visit or two in the day, going right back, and then coming in for supper. He's happy to go out again after he eats. All HIS choice. Frankly, I'd kind of like more blind devotion (
), but he is a buddy who has no deep desire to be at my feet.
At night, he'll come in and watch TV with me, but staying outside is just fine, as well. This is true summer and winter, although I want him in more in Winter.
He's run with me on the four-wheeler, ridden in my lap on it, and on the motorcycle (I just had to...but only local roads and very slowly), been in two boats and a canoe, and loves the runs in the pasture and romps in the crik.
He makes no demands, and may be congenial...or just indifferent.
He's good at "hup", working well at turning back from right to left, or vice versa, at two peeps of the whistle, and is retrieving very nicely...at least inside. Outside, he kinda doesn't see the point unless it is a bird.
Not the same as the GWPs, but a neat little dog.
Turn-key.
The GWPs were great dogs, with huge enthusiasm and wonderful natural ability. The female was the best dog I'll ever have, but goofy ole Young Bert, the not-right dog, was a character who hunted his heart out, and provided laughter and adventures far beyond what a person would (or should) expect.
So, bringing in Mick, a Springer, was a change. Frankly, from spaniels I've seen out at the public hunting grounds, I had lowered expectations. The dogs I'd seen over the years were casual hunters, or out of control, or robots...(there's a story there), but not anywhere on a par with the drive and passion for the hunt that my wirehairs had.
But Mick, now...turning out to be just fine. I'm a little casual with him, but he has drive, understand compliance, and has developed a prey drive that impresses me. (Although...well,nevermind).
More than that, he's gotta be the easiest keeper dog I've ever had. Life is just fine with him if it starts with him going out in the yard on the yard leash, coming in for a visit or two in the day, going right back, and then coming in for supper. He's happy to go out again after he eats. All HIS choice. Frankly, I'd kind of like more blind devotion (
), but he is a buddy who has no deep desire to be at my feet.At night, he'll come in and watch TV with me, but staying outside is just fine, as well. This is true summer and winter, although I want him in more in Winter.
He's run with me on the four-wheeler, ridden in my lap on it, and on the motorcycle (I just had to...but only local roads and very slowly), been in two boats and a canoe, and loves the runs in the pasture and romps in the crik.
He makes no demands, and may be congenial...or just indifferent.
He's good at "hup", working well at turning back from right to left, or vice versa, at two peeps of the whistle, and is retrieving very nicely...at least inside. Outside, he kinda doesn't see the point unless it is a bird.
Not the same as the GWPs, but a neat little dog.
Turn-key.
